Wi
Ha
ii |
He
ali}
|
i}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sixty-Turep Reement. 645

ing them in proper order to resist the enemy,” at the great bat-
tle of Brandy Station. And on page 775 of the same volume,
he is by “General Orders,” on the “Roll of Honor” for Get-
tysburg; then “Captain Gaines, Assistant, Adjutant-General
of Baker’s North Carolina Brigade.” In this capacity, he
remained on the staff of the North Carolina Cavalry Brigade
until, for great gallantry in battle, he was made Colonel of
the Second North Carolina Cavalry, when W. P. Roberts
was made General of Dearing’s Brigade. Every man at our
brigade headquarters loved him and he was an inspiration to
the entire brigade in battle. Gaines’ appointment was no
disparagement of any officer of the Nineteenth. They all
approved it, as far as I know.

FIVE FORKS.

April 1, in a small open field, right on the White Oak road,
slight scattering woods on the left and heavier woods on the
right, with a great open expanse in front of this little field,
far to its right and left, the Sixty-third North Carolina was
in some little, low improvised breastworks, the very last
on that long, attenuated line of defences, of the Army of
Northern Virginia, from Richmond to Petersburg and west-
ward. General Grant had been ever since the night of 7
May, 1864, “turning Lee’s right flank.” That night near
White Hall, Virginia, the Sixty-third North Carolina was
on Lee’s right flank. 1 April, 1865, was to see that right
flank finally turned and the Sixty-third was there, in the
post of honor, as it ever had been, to receive the last shivering
shock of that long, mighty move. The Forty-first and Nine-
teenth mounted were in that little field to see us do our part
and to do theirs. Pickett’s Division joined immediately on
to the left of the Sixty-third, also behind their own far longer
and stronger breastworks. Just about sundown, sitting on my
horse near the left end of the regiment, I saw the mightiest
mass of men I ever looked at in battle, in the most perfect
lines I ever witnessed, come forward with loud cheers, waving
the beautiful Stars and Stripes, and sweep like a storm over
Pickett’s works about two hundred yards to our left. All
Pickett’s veterans between us and these storming lines fled in